Permutation lock



my s 1924.

l.500657 Q. H. STOLBERG PERMUTATION LOCK Filed March 27, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Ewig 8, M924. 1,500,657

, o. H. sroLBERG PERMUTATION LOCK Filed March 27, 1922 2 Shame-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR A TTORNE YS Patented July 8, 1924.

OTTO E. STOLBERG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PERMITTATION LOCK.

Application filed March 27, 1922. Serial No. 546,967.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTOl H. STOLBERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks, whereof the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to permutation locks.

The invention is designed moreespecially to control the ignition systems of motor vehicles, but is capable of other uses.

'Ihe invention is a further improvemen on the subject-matter of the application heretofore led by me on Nov. 29, 1920, Serial'No. 426,939. n

The present invention maybe best undern stood by a study of the accompanying two sheets of drawing, and the description thereof which follows.V In the Vdrawing I have illustrated a lock adapted for use on automobiles.

Figure 1 is a face view of the dial of the l lock, showing the ignition handle in its off position.

AFigure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2, 2, of Figure v3, looking in thedirection of the arrows, showing the rear view of the locking mechanism. j Y

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3, 3, of Figure 1, and shows the interior parts of the lock, in their relation to each other. l Y

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, or section, taken on the line 4, 4, of Figure 2, and shows a means by which the locking mechanism is secured to the outer casing.

. Fi ure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, showing two of the push buttons, one of them being arranged to release the lock only when pushed fully in, and the other ar-l ranged to release, the lock when pushed partly, but not wholly, in.

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 1, but shows the permutation shaft solid, instead of hollow, as in Figurerl.

Figure 7 is a back view of the locking mechanism, being a section taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a cross-section taken on the line 8, 8, of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the interior of the locking mechanism.

Figure 9 is a modified form spring arrangement.

In the igures,-the casing 4 is removably secured in the woodwork 5, by. means of screws 6, and within .the casing the locking mechanism is also removably secured by means of screw 7.

The locking mechanism comprises the front plate 8, the middle plate 9 and the back plate 10 as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 8, and partially Figure 4, arranged one behind the other in the order named, and traversed by the stem 11. The stem 11 may be hollow, and traversed by the lighting stem 12, as indicated in Figures 1, 2, 3 an 4, or may be solid, as indicated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The stem 11 is revoluble in plates 8 and 9, by the ignition handle 13 and `is Secured to back plate 10 inl any convenient manner, as by ears and screws at 14, so that plate 10 is oscillated with and by the handle 13. To ensure xity of the locking plate in the casing 4, a notch and lug, as at 15, may be provided. To prevent withdrawal of the plates, the back, or other plate, may be provided with amutilated iiange, as at 16, to engage projections 17. n

The front plate 8 is perforated to receive any desired number of buttons 18, Vpressed outward by springs 19, contained in the space 20, between plates 8 and 9, and bearing against the latter.4 Each button terminates in a short stub 21, which entersinto register ing perforations inplate 9, but does not eX- tend through the same. A shortstub sec tion 22 Ibears against the inner end of stub 21, and a second stub-section 23 bears against the inner end of this latter and extends into plate 10, which is in approximate contact with plate 9. A spring 24 presses the stub sections outward, its inner end bearing against the` bottom of the perforation, which may be formed by screws 25, or by a bottom plate 26, as seen in Figures 7 and 8, or otherwise. In the latter case the bottom plate may be provided with slot or line of perforations 27, as seen in Figure 7 for convenience in placing the stubs and springs in position within their respective perforation.

It will be observed that the stub sections 22 and 23 are madein two lengths, and may be reversed in position for the purpose now to be set forth.

The stub sections 21, 22 and 23 are of such lengths, that, when the short section of button and 22 is against the button section 21, and the button in its outermost position, the section v23 extends across the dividing plane of plates 9 and 10 and locks those plates together, and the ignition handle 13 cannotv be turned, until the button having that arrangement of sections is pressed in. But if the section 23 is against the button section 21, it just `reaches'the Vdividing plane, and plate 10 is free to move. Hence, by varying Athe `relative position of' the sections 22 and 23, the plate 10 is locked against movement until certain predetermined buttonsare pressed in, thus determining the permutation combination.

iAs' a further'complication of' the combination a Washer or stub-section 28 may be inserted so that one or more of the but` tons vmust be pressed in less than the Whole distance t-o release plate l0, as clearly'seen in fthe Vlovver part of Figure 5. case-a less pressure of the button Will res livlt; in plate i10 being locked by stub 23,

and a greater-pressure of the button will result inrplate 10 being vlocked by stub 22. A slot'29'in plates 10 and 26 shown in Figures 2, A/i'and 7 permits the oscillation ofthose platesupon fixed screw 7 and also serve'sasa stop to limit the oscillation of the plate and of the ignition handle 13.

Ihave shown the ignition handle in its oii position, see more particularly Figures 1 and 6. In thisposition the handle covers -screw 7 ,l thus protecting it from meddling. The dotted lines show the handle in its on position and also in its intermediate positionWhich it may occupy When coast` ingffor example. Y,

jAt`30, in Figure 8 is a tube extending lrearward from the outer casing containing the ignition `Wires 31. In 'Figures 7 and 8 the ignition circuit is closed by thecontact points 32, 'as shown particularly in Figure 7 by the movement of the pla-te 10.

In Figure 3 the closing `or opening of the Y ignition andthe lighting-'circuits is operated by a switch device 33 onshafts 11. and 12. Y

Having thus described my invention, and anembodiment of it, in the full, clear .and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel, useful and valuableI improvements in the art to Which it per tains, I here state that I do ,not Wish to be limited to the/precise construction and arrangement of the several parts, as the saine maybe variously modified by a skilled `1ne- Vchanicrwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my'invention as defined in the appended claims. Y

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the following, to Wit permutationloclgcomprising a casing,'itwo plates, being'a frontplate and a In thisA middle plate spaced apartand fixed Vin said casing against oscillation, anV oscillable shaft in said casing, a back plate fixed to said shaft and oscillable therewith, co-acting Y means in ysaid middle and back plates adapted to lock said back plate; in an inoperative position and means to release said locking means. Y

2. A permutation lock comprising an oscillable plate and a removable fixed plate,V

stub sectionsnormally crossing the .divide ing plane between4 saidfplates, and means engaging said removableplate adapted to move said stubs out of locking position and release said oscillable plate.

3. A permutation lock comprising a series of reciprocable buttons mounted in a dial plate, in combination With said dial plate, a secondV xed plate behindsaiddial plate, said buttons having stubs entering said second plate, Vand a third, and oscillable plate behind said second plate,A said plate having normally registering apertures, a series ofV stubs in two lengths entering said apertures, said stubs interchangeable tovary the permutation combinatiomrand springs adapted to maintain said partsin their'normal position. Y

4. Apermutation lool; comprising a frontV plate, a `middle plate and a back oscillating plate, registeringV apertures in said plates, push buttons in said vapertures engaging said front plate, a plurality of studsl in said apertures controlled by 'said push buttons, said studs being interchangeable and adapted to vary the permutation combinationand spring means in said apertures to hold said stubs against said buttons. K n y 5. A permutation lock comprising a front fixed plate, a middle xed platelagnd oscillat-Y ing plate behind said middle fixed plate,V

said plates having normally registering apertures, push buttons in the aperturesV of said Vfront plate having studs entering the aperture of said middle plate, interchangeable studs engaging the apertures' of said middle fixed plateand said 'oscillating plate adapted to vary the permutation combination, and springs in 'said apertures adapted to maintain said studs in their normal position., Y

lli

6. vpermutation lock, comprising, acasing, a front plate and a middlel plate spa-ced apart and xed in said casing against' oscil- March, 1922.

OTTOV H. STOLBERQ 

